Silencing a Gene can Make Tomatoes Sweeter

Researchers at the University of Newcastle in Australia and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have made a major advance by identifying a gene in tomato that could increase crop seed yield, fruit quality, and lengthen shelf life. The gene, INVINH1, plays a role in limiting the amount of sugar delivered to each part of the plant and if prevented from expressing itself, more sugar (glucose and fructose) could be delivered to specific parts of the plants including seeds and fruits.

INVINH1 encodes a protein that inhibits the activity of invertase, the enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of sucrose into glucose and fructose. Invertase plays a linchpin role in plant development and in biotic and abiotic stress response, since glucose and fructose are important signaling molecules and essential substrates for energy generation.

The researchers observed that silencing the expression of INVINH1 in tomato, via RNA interference, led to a prolonged leaf life span, by blocking abscisic acid-induced senescence, and an increase in seed weight and fruit hexose level which is achieved through enhanced sucrose hydrolysis.

The paper published by the Plant Cell is available for download at http://dx.doi.org/10.1105/tpc.108.063719